Telecommunications
HB 687-Relating to Utilities
On Wednesday, March 15th, HB 687, relating to Utilities by Representative Mike La Rosa (R-Saint Cloud) was heard by the House Energy & Utilities Subcommittee and passed. AIF stood in support of this bill.
This bill creates the Advanced Wireless Infrastructure Deployment Act which would ultimately allow for 5G technology throughout the state of Florida.
HB 687 will now go to its second committee hearing in the House Commerce Committee.
AIF SUPPORTS legislation that accommodates for the increasing need for reliable wireless networks to help support communities and businesses of the future.
Please see the below statement from our President & CEO, Tom Feeney, regarding HB 687:
AIF: Bring Smart Cities & Ultra-fast Wireless Network Speeds to Florida
Tallahassee, Fla. – The Associated Industries of Florida (AIF) today released the following statement on behalf of its President & CEO Tom Feeney regarding the support of House Bill 687, by Representative Mike La Rosa, relating to Utilities. HB 687 was today heard in the House Energy & Utilities Subcommittee, its first committee of reference.
“AIF supports HB 687, which would bring Florida into the next generation of wireless technology to support communities of the future. By streamlining the process to deploy small cell technology around our state, Florida’s businesses and families can have smart cities and ultra-fast wireless network speeds.
“This good public policy will spur increased investments in the state, attracting innovative and technologically advanced companies to Florida. Additionally, this legislation secures the bandwidth Florida families need as their data demands continue to rise.
“AIF and our members encourage Florida lawmakers to give Floridians the opportunity to be a part of the smart cities revolution sooner rather than later.”
# # #
Health Care
HB 723-Relating to Maintenance of Certification
On Wednesday, March 15th, HB 723, relating to Maintenance of Certification, by Representative Julio Gonzalez (R-Venice) and Representative Ralph Massullo (R-Beverly Hills) was heard by the House Health Quality Subcommittee and passed. AIF’s Senior Vice President of State and Federal Affairs, Brewster Bevis, stood in opposition of this bill.
This bill eliminates the requirement of physicians to maintain board certification in a subspecialty as conditions of licensure, reimbursement, employment, or admitting privileges. Currently, hospitals or private employers have the ability to require their physicians who may practice in a specialty field to hold and/or maintain such specialty certifications. As medical practices change daily, allowing employers this ability will ensure that these physicians have the utmost knowledge and skill pertaining to their specialty. Hosting top medical facilities, as well as world renowned specialty physicians, is one of the many things that brings people to Florida. We want our physicians to be on the cutting edge of their field and the only way to accomplish that is to continue to implement the requirement of maintaining certification.
HB 723 will now go to the House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee to be heard.
AIF OPPOSES government mandates that regulate how private employers hire their employees.
Public Notices
HB 897-Relating Public Notices by Local Governmental Entities
On Wednesday, March 15th, HB 897, relating to Public Notices by Local Governmental Entities, by Representative Richard Stark (D-Weston) was heard by the House Local, Federal & Veterans Affairs Subcommittee and temporarily postponed. AIF stood in opposition to this bill.
The Florida Constitution requires public notice be given for meetings at which official acts are to be taken or where public business is to be conducted. Several statutory provisions require notice to be given for certain actions undertaken by local governments. The bill authorizes counties and municipalities to publish legally required notices and advertisements on their official websites instead of in print.
As HB 897 was temporarily postponed we do not expect this bill to be calendared for another hearing.
AIF continues to support requirements that public notices be printed in local newspapers as defined by Chapter 50, Florida Statutes, as well as displayed on the Internet.
